What is the best cooking tip you discovered yourself by accident?

Question

Mine was, when cooking most meats, (not fish) to put the meat directly on to the oven rack, and then put a roasting tin underneath to catch the fat. This way, it bastes itself, and the fat left over can be soaked in stale bread and fed to the birds.

Answer 1

Using a melonballer to scoop out baked potatoes for twice bakeds when I didn't want to move the dishwasher to get a spoon.

And cream cheese is an excellent substitute for milk or cream in mashed potatoes.

Answer 2

I discovered that tomato sauce is best cooked before adding the tomato paste. Just cook the water, spices, and meat as though it were a soup. Then turn off the heat and stir in the tomato paste. That way, there is no chance it will stick to the bottom of the pot, and it has a fresh tomato taste, because there really is no need to cook tomatoes.